North East - Developments & Debate

[Oracle]

Sainik School to be set up in Mizoram

AIZAWL, June 3 (IANS): A Sainik School is going to come up in Mizoram. Bijoy Krishna Handique, who heads the Union DoNER Ministry, has sanctioned Rs 8,289 lakh for its construction, officials said here today.
It will be set up at Chhingchhip in Serchhip district. It will be the 26th such institution in India and the fourth in the northeast. Assam, Manipur and Nagaland have Sainik Schools.

Handique conveyed the government decision to Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla in New Delhi on Wednesday, a government official told reporters.

Sainik Schools were conceived in 1961 by then defence minister V.K. Krishna Menon to rectify the regional and class imbalance amongst the officer cadre of the military and prepare students for entry into the National Defence Academy (NDA) and the Indian Naval Academy.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun0310/at048

 

[Oracle]

NDFB indulging in abduction for ransom

GUWAHATI, June 2 – Even after the arrest of Ranjan Daimary, cadres of the anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) are indulging in abduction to extort money and according to records available with police, at least nine persons are in the captivity of the outfit in the jungle areas along Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border.
Police sources told The

Assam Tribune that the persons in the captivity of the NDFB at present include an Indian Forest Service Officer and one 12-year-old boy kidnapped from Sonitpur district. The outfit has demanded amounts ranging from Rs 1 to 5 crore for the release of the abducted persons and the family members of some of them have already started negotiating with the abductors.

Police sources said that the kidnapped persons are kept in an area north of Dhekiajuli in Sonitpur district and from time to time, whenever major operations are launched, they are taken inside Arunachal Pradesh.

"Though the police and security forces are aware of the area where the kidnapped persons are kept, it is not possible to launch a full scale operation as it may pose threat to the lives of the persons in captivity," sources said.

Sources revealed that the NDFB has demanded a sum of Rs 5 crore from the family members of VS Bardekar, an Indian Forest Service officer kidnapped on May 12 from West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Giving an account of the kidnappings by the NDFB in recent times, police sources said that one Ram Prasad Raunia was kidnapped from Belsor weekly market on April 22 and on the same day, a teenaged boy, Rama Das was kidnapped from Hugrajuli. On April 23, the militants kidnapped three persons– Rubul Nath, Shiv Kumar Singh and Amar Kalita from Ramnathpur village, while on May 2, one Haridas Roy was kidnapped from Majbat. The outfit also kidnapped Ranjit Ghosh and Swapan Seal on May 21. It is believed that all the kidnapped persons are kept in the same locality, sources added.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun0310/at07

 

[Oracle]

Minister's house set ablaze in Manipur

IMPHAL, June 2 – Unidentified miscreants set on fire a Manipur Minister's house in Senapati district last night. However, there is no report of any casualty.
Police said the incident took place when some unidentified miscreants poured inflammable substances on the Senapati residence of the Tribal Development Minister D D Thaissi located at the hill district headquarter, 60 km north of here, in the intervening night of June 1 and 2.

"We have taken up a case in connection with the incident," Superintendent of Police Nishit Kumar Ujjal of Senapati district said over phone. "Investigation is on", he added.

Minister Thaisii, a Poumai Naga leader, who was away in his official quarter here when the incident occurred, could not be contacted for details. The Minister's two niece and some others were inside the house at the time of the incident.

No one has claimed responsibility for the incident so far. However, All Naga Students Association Manipur, demanding amendment of the Manipur District Council Act, had been imposing indefinite economic blockade on the National Highways 39 and 53 since April 11 last. It may also be noted that out of nine Naga legislators in the Manipur Assembly, seven MLAs have submitted their resignation to Speaker Dr S Budhichandra in the aftermath of the stand off between some Naga bodies and Manipur Government over NSCN-IM General Secretary Th Muivah's proposed visit to his native Somdal village in Ukhrul district.

Last night's incident happened soon after reports of destruction of around 10 houses belonging to candidates of the second phase Autonomous District Council (ADC) election which was held in the three hill districts of Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul on Wednesday.

Each ADC has 24 members. Of the 72 seats in the three districts, 36 candidates were declared elected uncontested. Thus elections were held in 30 seats – 20 in Tamenglong district, four in Ukhrul and six in Senapati to decide the fate of 184 candidates who are in fray.

Polling in almost all the polling booths were reportedly poor. But district authorities are planning to hold re-polling in some polling booths. Sources from Ukhrul said poll percentage in the district is said to be nil. But officials are likely to recommend repolling in Huishu, Laihoaram and Etham.

Senapati also witnessed a similar scene except a couple of booths which saw some voters.

More than 40 polling booths out of 77 are expected to see repollling in Tamenglong district.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun0310/oth05

 

[Oracle]

ABSU revives separate State demand

GUWAHATI, June 3 – The All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) today revived the demand for the creation of a separate state of Bodoland and submitted a memorandum to the Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram in this regard. The ABSU also demanded intervention of the Government of India for protection of life and property of the common people of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) area.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, the president of the ABSU, Promode Boro said that a seven member delegation of the students' body today met the Union Home Minister to put forward its demands. He said that with the Government of Assam adopting a discriminatory attitude towards the BTC area, only creation of a separate state would be able to solve the problems facing the people of the area.

The ABSU president alleged that though law and order is a state subject, the Assam Government totally failed to protect life and property of the people living in the BTC area. He said that the Bodo accord is yet to be fully implemented because of lack of sincerity of the State Government and the Bodo people living in Karbi Anglong are yet to get the status of ST hills as per the provisions of the accord. He said that under the present circumstances, only creation of a separate state would be able to protect the identity of the Bodo people.

Boro said that the Assam Government totally failed to deal with law and order situation in BTC area and more than 140 innocent persons were killed in the area in the last couple of years. He demanded that the Centre should intervene immediately and take steps for seizing the illegal weapons. He said that the Government of India should take immediate steps for finding permanent solution to the problem of militancy, which has been haunting the BTC area for years.

The ABSU demanded that the Government of India should immediate constitute a language promotion bureau for the development of Bodo language and a full fledged centre of the Doordarshan should be set up in Kokrajhar.

The ABSU, in its memorandum to the Union Home Minister, also demanded that immediate steps should be taken to improve the academic scenario in the BTC area and a Central university, a medical college, agriculture college, branches of the Indian Institute of Technology and Indian Institute of Management should be set up in the area. The ABSU demanded steps for industrial development of the area and said that the potential for setting up of agro based industries and developing tourism as an industry were not tapped so far.

The ABSU president said that the Union Home Minister assured the delegation that the MHA would look into the demands of the students' body.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun0410/at08

 

[Oracle]

Dr Gohain meets ULFA leaders in jail

GUWAHATI, June 3 – The detained leaders of ULFA may respond to a Government 'feeler' for a negotiated settlement of the ULFA insurgency. This was the impression they gave to Dr Hiren Gohain, the spokesman appointed by the Convention for Revival of Talks between the Government and ULFA (Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan), during his visit to the Guwahati Central Jail yesterday.
Talking to this newspaper here today, Dr Gohain said that the Government is yet to make any sort of contact with the detained ULFA leaders, who consist majority of the surviving members of the militant outfit's central committee.

These leaders of the outfit have given the people involved with the convention the impression that they are for a negotiated settlement of the vexed issue. This attitude of the detained ULFA leaders created a feeling among the organizers of the Jatiya Abhibartan that it was sensible to persuade these militant leaders to be more flexible on their political demands without sacrificing their basic principles.

"The detained leaders of the outfit agreed to consider our suggestion positively," said Dr Gohain.

Finally, this initiative taken by Dr Gohain and his colleagues resulted in the state-level Jatiya Abhibartan. The resolutions adopted in this convention have already been sent to the Chief Minister and the Chief Minister was also met by the office-bearers appointed by the convention in the last week of May.

The Chief Minister, after giving the delegation a patient hearing, assured it steps to contact the detained ULFA leaders informally so as to be assured of a positive response from them on the issue of negotiation, said Dr Gohain.

"As far as I understood from my visit to the Guwahati Jail yesterday, such contacts are yet to be established by the Government," said Dr Gohain.

He also clarified that during their meeting with the Chief Minister, the latter did not raise any point on any formal communication from ULFA for the negotiation process to commence.

"But I also understood (from the meeting with the detained ULFA leaders yesterday) that while they might send such a communication from the organization, they were not in a position to formally take a decision on talks within the four walls of the jail," said Dr Gohain.

The delegation of the office-bearers appointed by the state-level convention requested the Chief Minister to take up speedy measures to create a congenial atmosphere for resumption of talks. To create such a condition, it pleaded particularly for the release of the detained leaders of the outfit so that they can convene a full session of their central committee in a spirit of freedom from constraint, said Dr Gohain.

On the issue of ULFA c-in-c Paresh Barua, Dr Gohain said that Barua's stand on the issue of talks was not a major issue in the discussions either with the Chief Minister or with the jailed leaders of the militant outfit.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun0410/at09

 

[Oracle]

Student body wants bifurcation of NC Hills

GUWAHATI, June 3 – The North Cachar Hills Indigenous Students Forum on Wednesday appealed to the Government for the bifurcation of the North Cachar Hills district into two autonomous districts under Articles 3(C) of 244 (2) and 275(1) of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of the country to prevent further ethnic clash in the hills district.
The student body, while slamming the declaration of the hills district as Dima Hasao district as arbitrary and biased, stated that this step has reduced the non-Dimasa indigenous communities to the position of foreigners. Describing the move as a bad precedent to democracy and an act of surrender to terror tactics of Dimasa militants, the student body said that the Government should not have gone out of the way to appease one particular community.

The student body said that the Dimasas have been harbouring a devious plan to drive out all the other indigenous communities who were the earliest settlers in the district and after renaming of the district the design has got added momentum.

"The prospect of survival of the non-Dimasas in the officially declared Dimasa district is practically nil," said the student body reiterating that the only solution to the vexed problem is bifurcation. It also alleged that the ultimate aim of the Dimasas is to secede from Assam and Dima Hasao is the first step towards this nefarious design.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun0410/state05

 

[Oracle]

Nagaland: Muivah leaves Viswema, moves to Pfutsero

Ending his stormy month-long wait for a visit to his birth place Somdal village in Ukhrul district of Manipur that was opposed by the Manipur government, National Socialist Council of Nagaland general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah on Friday shifted his camp from Viswema village near Nagaland-Manipur boundary to Pfutsero in Phek district bordering Myanmar and Manipur.

Sources said Muivah left Viswema village, where he had pitched his camp since May 5, after he had been given a warm send off by the village council there and reached Pfutsero on Friday morning along with senior NSCN-IM leaders "on a peace mission".

Muivah thanked the people of Angami tribe dominated Viswema village for their hospitality extended to him and his entourage during their stay in the village and informed that he would go to Pfutsero on peace mission. Muivah was expected to meet various non-governmental organisations at Pfutsero and also likely to visit other places in Nagaland to hold consultative meetings.

Pfutsero is about 70 km away from Viswema village.

However, rival Naga rebel groups NSCN-K and Naga National Council have sounded a note of caution over Muivah's visit to Pfutsero dominated by Chakhesang Naga tribe. Pfutsero was once a bastion of the NNC.

The NSCN-K has warned that he (Muivah) would be responsible for any "incident or bloodshed that may arise out of this visit".

Accusing Muivah of trying to gain "political mileage" by stepping into Chakhesang soil, the NSCN-K also charged Muivah of "committing numerous atrocities" against Chakhesang tribe in the past.

Muivah's stay in Viswema with intention to visit Somdal village in Manipur's Ukhrul district had evoked very sharp reaction from Okram Ibobi Singh government in Manipur which deployed Manipur police commandos at Mao border gate on NH 39 to prevent Muivah from entering Manipur.

There was police firing on Muivah's supporters that claimed three lives besides aggravating the situation.

The people of land-locked Manipur are still reeling under economic blockade along the arterial NH 39 and NH 53 called by Naga students in retaliation to Manipur government's opposition to Muivah's proposed visit to Somdal village.

http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/jun/04/nagaland-muivah-leaves-viswema-moves-to-pfutsero.htm

 

[Oracle]

Manipur deploys forces to prevent Muivah's entry

The Manipur government has deployed state forces at Liyai Khunou and Jessami near the Nagaland border in Ukhrul district to prevent the entry of NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah.

Official sources said on Saturday that nearly 200 police personnel and border security forces have been deployed at both the villages.

Muivah, who attempted to enter Manipur along the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway 39 in May by camping at Viswema in Nagaland, had moved to Pfutsero in that state in an attempt to cross into Ukhrul district via Jessami and Liyai Khunou.

The senior Naga rebel leader, who hails from Somdal in Manipur's Ukhrul district, left his village about 40 years ago to wage an armed struggle.

The state government and many civil organisations were of the view that Muivah's attempt to enter Manipur would create communal disharmony as the main demand of the NSCN-IM was to form a greater Nagaland by merging Naga-settled areas of Manipur with the present Nagaland state, official sources said.

Muivah on Friday wound up his camp at Visema village on the Nagaland-Manipur border where he had been camping since May 5 and went to Pfutsero, 70 km away by road, on a 'peace mission'.

http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/jun/05/manipur-deploys-forces-to-prevent-muivahs-entry.htm

 

[Oracle]

Nagas are at a crossroad: Rio

DIMAPUR, June 5 – Underscoring the need to resolve the Naga political issue, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio noted that "Nagas are at a crossroad" and "we are at a point where we may even lose our own history and right if we do not find an early solution to the Naga political problem".
Addressing the inaugural function of the Chiechama village council hall near Kohima yesterday, the CM asserted that every Naga has to "not only pray but contribute" towards resolving the issue.

He also reiterated that unity is the need of the hour from every section of the society. "Nagas have to come together," he sought to underline.

Maintaining that Nagas are facing a period of identity crisis, Rio further stressed the need to keep and preserve identity. He pointed out that other people have recognised our identity and afforded protection through systems such as Inner Line Permit (ILP) and Protected Area Permit (PAP).

However, lamenting that "we are failing in recognising ourselves', he said 'people will respect us only if we keep our identity".

Also dwelling on the 6th RoP issue, the CM said the State Government is making all efforts towards resoling it for the public good.

In the meantime, he expressed serious concern over the trend of absentee government employees who draw their salaries without contributing to the development of the State. In this regard, he felt that such employees should opt out from government service and engage themselves in other ways more beneficial to the society.

He also called upon the youth to come forward and avail the opportunities being offered by the government in line with the Year of Entrepreneurs.

Solar energy project for Agartala cleared

Agartala, June 5 – In a bid to light up all the streets of this capital city and its government offices and 251 remote hamlets of Tripura with solar energy, the Central Government has cleared a of Rs 8.39 crore project.

Science, Technology and Environment Minister Joy Gobinda Debroy said the Centre had declared to make Agartala a 'Solar City' along with other 60 towns of the country.

Now it has sanctioned the project in which Agartala, government offices in the city and some other important places, and 251 remote villages would be illuminated with solar energy, Debroy said. A Central team would conduct a survey soon to asses the quantum of lights needed for electrification through solar energy. – PTI

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun0610/oth05

 

[nandu]

Top ULFA leaders to surrender soon: Pillai

Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai says a number of top commanders and leaders of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) based in Bangladesh and Myanmar are expected to surrender shortly and join the peace process.

"Some of them are senior leaders and commanders based in Bangladesh and Myanmar who have expressed their willingness to come over ground," Mr. Pillai told IANS in an interview here.

Mr. Pillai was in Meghalaya on a three-day visit to review the security situation that concluded on Saturday.

"The Assam government has already initiated the peace process with the ULFA and we are very optimistic about a settlement," the Home Secretary said in Guwahati while returning to New Delhi after his trip to Meghalaya.

He said the presence of the elusive ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah was important for the peace talks, but claimed the rebel leader would find himself in a spot if he keeps away from the dialogue process.

"Paresh Baruah would be marginalised if he remains adamant and fails to respect the voices of the people of Assam," the Home Secretary said.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi last week set the ball rolling by way of a Cabinet decision to open peace talks with the ULFA leadership, majority of them in jail now.

Six top ULFA leaders are in jail and that includes chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, 'deputy commander-in-chief' Raju Baruah, 'foreign secretary' Sasha Choudhury, 'finance secretary' Chitraban Hazarika, 'cultural secretary' Pranati Deka, and political ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain.

ULFA vice-chairman Pradeep Gogoi and publicity chief Mithinga Daimary are out on bail and currently drumming up public opinion for peace talks.

The only top ULFA leader who continues to be at large is Paresh Baruah.

"Paresh Baruah is probably somewhere in the borders between Myanmar and China's Yunnan Province," Mr. Pillai said.

ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia is in protective custody in Bangladesh since his arrest in 1997 in that country. His jail term was over, but continues to remain in Bangladesh as he had moved a writ petition seeking political asylum there.

"There are legal problems in extraditing Anup Chetia as he had moved a petition seeking political asylum," the Home Secretary said.

Chetia would have to withdraw the petition for political asylum for enabling him to come to Assam and join the peace process.

Mr. Pillai, however, warned of possible strikes by the ULFA and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) in Assam. NDFB chief Ranjan Daimary was handed over by Bangladesh to Indian authorities last month and is now in the custody of Assam Police.

"When militant groups get weakened they try to strike out of desperation and hence such a possibility for violent attacks is not ruled out and so a general alert and stepped up vigil is always there," the Home Secretary said.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article447929.ece

 

[Oracle]

Mizo church warning to homosexuals

AIZAWL: Terming homosexuality as against the tenets of Christianity, the Mizoram Presbyterian Church has threatened to excommunicate and suspend its homosexual members if they were found living together.

The decision was taken by the Synod Executive Committee, the highest decision-making body of the largest church in the state, during a meeting this week. According to church sources, the SEC decided to excommunicate and suspend its gay and lesbian members ''from the membership of the church if they lived together as husbands and wives''.

This is not the first time that the Mizo Church has come down on its homosexual members and kicked off a ontroversy. Last December, delegates of the Synod, the highest conference of the Presbyterian Church, felt that the present creed of the church was too lenient on homosexuals.

According to Church rules, "Two men or two women living together as married couples should be punished as a man or woman who commits adultery... and the punishment is suspension from the church membership for a period of six months."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Mizo-church-warning-to-homosexuals-/articleshow/6016334.cms

 

[Oracle]

Guwahati-Dhaka bus service likely

R Dutta Choudhury

GUWAHATI, June 6 – With improvement of relations between India and Bangladesh, a proposal to introduce bus service between Guwahati and Dhaka via Shillong is under serious consideration of the Government of India.
Highly-placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that the Government has agreed on principle to introduce such a bus service to improve connectivity of the North East region. However, sources admitted that modalities for a bus service are yet to be finalized and "a lot of hurdles will have to be cleared before a bus service connecting Guwahati and Dhaka becomes operational. Further improvement of the relations between India and Bangladesh will also determine whether the Government of India gives its nod to the introduction of the bus service."

Sources pointed out that the relations between India and Bangladesh started improving after the Sheikh Hasina Government assumed office in the neighbouring country and some of the key areas of recent discussions include improvement of trade ties and dealing with militancy. The Government of Bangladesh has already agreed on principle to allow use of Chittagong port, which would be of great help to the North East region, while, the Government of India is pressing the neighbouring country to allow use of the river routes, which would solve the problem of lack of connectivity of the North-east by a great extent. It may be mentioned here that a delegation of ministers of the NE states and traders of the region recently visited Bangladesh to discuss the issues relating to improvement of trade ties and the delegation also met the Bangladesh Prime Minister to put forward a list of the steps need to be taken in this regard.

Sources said that India has allowed Bangladesh use of routes from Nepal and Bhutan through India and Bangladesh is requesting India to allow use of more such routes. Government of India is also proving aids to Bangladesh for implementation of various development projects.

On the issue of militancy, sources said that though India and Bangladesh agreed to set up a joint task force, the same is yet to become operational. But sharing of information by both countries to deal with the problem has improved considerably in recent months, which led to handing over of a number of key members of NE based militant groups to India. Sources said that ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and other leaders of the ULFA were handed over before the last visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister to create a congenial atmosphere for the visit and only recently, after constant pressure from India, the NDFB chief Ranjan Daimary was handed over.

Sources said that a number of hardcore militants including members of the United Liberation Front of Asom, NDFB, the chairman of Manipur based group UNLF etc are still in Bangladesh and the Government of India has been putting pressure on Bangladesh to hand them over. The Government of India is expecting that Bangladesh would soon hand over the Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO) chief Jiban Singha as he is reportedly under surveillance. "The Government of Bangladesh may take time in handing over militants as if all the wanted persons are handed over at one go, Bangladesh Government will lose its barging point with India," sources said.

Sources further said that India is requesting Bangladesh to hand over ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia, who is under "protective custody" of Bangladesh after completing his jail term in the neighbouring country. However, the Government of Bangladesh will have to complete some legal formalities before handing him over to India, sources added.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun0710/at05

 

[Oracle]

Kokrajhar police to grill Daimary

Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, June 6 – NDFB supremo Ranjan Daimary will be interrogated soon by Kokrajhar police, informed Kokrajhar Superintendent of Police PK Dutta today.
Talking to mediapersons, Dutta said that three major cases against Daimary were related to the incident of targeting an MP and his convoy at Tipkai in Parbotjhora subdivision in April 2009, killing of ABSU president Swambla Basumatary in 1996 and looting armoury of 7 APBn at Charaikhola in Kokrajhar district in 1992.

Dutta also revealed that there were evidences establishing links between NDFB militants and political parties like BPPF, which was of serious concern. This information was gathered on the basis of interrogation of some arrested NDFB cadres in recent times. He appealed to political parties to abstain from maintaining links with any militant outfit or group.

The senior police also revealed that it would be wrong to undermine the strength of NDFB as a militant outfit as a good number of the outfit's council members were still beyond the security net and there were inputs that the cadres were operating from several hideouts. Sabotage attempts on railway tracks in particular revealed that the outfit was going in for massive attacks. As a result railway tracks, coaches, major installations etc., had been put on high alert, he added.

Dutta further informed that among the active NDFB cadres Fukan Boro was known as an explosive expert. Of late he had increased his movements along with a few others in the northern part of NH-31. Although some of his associates had been arrested, Fukan Boro was still at large, the SP said adding that a group of 40 to 50 trained NDFB ultras had managed to sneak into India and were taking shelter in inaccessible locations in Tipkai area of Kokrajhar district.

Dutta further revealed that as many as 34 NDFB cadres died in encounter, 52 were apprehended with huge quantities of arms and ammunition in 2009, while 10 NDFB cadres died in encounter and 22 were arrested till date this year.

Meanwhile, Dutta also referred to specific inputs that KLO supremo Jiban Sing was presently roaming in the border areas of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon and Dhubri districts of lower Assam keeping nexus with ULFA cadres to strengthen ultra activities.

On the other hand, the Kokrajhar SP also did not rule out the movement of some Maoist activists in the bordering area, but said that strong vigil was being maintained.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun0710/at08

 

[Oracle]

Delhi-Guwahati trains among 13 worst affected

NEW DELHI, June 6 – Railways have admitted that cases of drugging and looting are rampant in the Mumbai-Varanasi and Delhi-Guwahati sections and identified 13 trains as the worst affected ones, reports PTI.
"It is an organised crime. We identified 13 trains in which such incidents are frequently reported and have taken certain measures to prevent the menace," a senior Railway official said.

"The unscrupulous elements offer passengers drug-laced biscuits, cold drinks, tea or coffee and make them unconscious before looting their belongings," the official said.

The Mahanagri Express, Tapaswani Express and Kalka Mail are among the 13 worst-affected trains identified by the Railways for frequent drugging incidents, he said.

Other "vulnerable" trains include Mumbai-Ferozpur Punjab Mail, Delhi-Guwahati North East Express, Delhi-Dibrugarh Brahmaputra Mail, Delhi-Guwahati Awadh Express and Mahananda Express, the official said.

The Mahanagri Express and Kamayani Express running between Mumbai-Varanasi sector alone reported 38 such cases last year.

Twenty-four drugging cases were reported from Mumbai- Varanasi Mahanagri Express followed by Puri-Hatia Tapaswani Express (18), Howrah-Kalka Mail (17), Mumbai-Varanasi Kamayani Express (14), Delhi-Jalpaiguri Mahananda Express (12), Delhi- Guwahati Awadh Assam Express (11) and Ferozpur-Mumbai Punjab Mail (9) in 2009.

While eight drugging cases each were reported from New Jalpaiguri-Danapur Capital Express and Delhi-Katihar Amrapali Express, Delhi-Guwahati North East Express witnessed 10 cases, Howrah-Jodhpur Express, Delhi-Dibrugarh Brahmaputra Mail, and Nagpur-Tatanagar passenger trains witnessed nine, five and four cases respectively last year.

A total of 957 drugging incidents were reported last year while 200 such cases were registered and 41 persons arrested during January-April this year, the official said.

"We have identified certain stations as prone to such crimes. Constant vigil, awareness campaign and increased patrolling are some of the steps undertaken to prevent the menace," he said.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun0710/at09

 

[Oracle]

Prices skyrocket as Manipur blockade continues

IMPHAL, June 6 – The indefinite economic blockade of lifeline routes NH - 39 (Imphal-Dimapur) and NH - 53 (Imphal-Silchar) in Manipur by agitating Naga groups entered the 55th day today as prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed with hundreds of trucks remaining stranded.
The All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM) launched the blockade on April 12 to protest against holding of elections to six autonomous district councils in the Hills which, it alleged, were given not enough power to carry out development works. The charge was, however, denied by the Manipur Government.

Due to the blockade, which was intensified after the State refused entry to NSCN (IM) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah on May 3, regular supply of essential commodities have been stopped, causing the prices to shoot up.

A litre of petrol now costs between Rs 120 and Rs 150, onion Rs 28 and rice Rs 26 per kg. But despite the exorbitant prices, many essential commodities were not simply available, official sources said.

Before the blockade, between 300 to 400 trucks carrying the essentials were plying daily on the two National Highways, the sources said.

On May 12, the Manipur Government had decided to bring hundreds of stranded trucks, loaded with essential items, from Silchar to Imphal via Jiribam, a distance of 212 kms, by providing security.

However, the authorities in spite of the Cabinet decision used NH 150 from Silchar to Imphal via Aizawl, a distance of 512 kms. Sources said very few trucks could be brought along this route because of the difficult terrain.

Some local organisations launched a counter-blockade and prevented trucks going to Hill districts, where the Naga population is concentrated, but it was later withdrawn on the request of Food and Civil Supply Minister Y Erabot.

Sources said on May 22, Erabot with the help of around 14 personnel security officers brought more than 300 stranded loaded trucks from Jiribam to Imphal. Meanwhile, thousands of vehicle-owners were having a difficult time in refuelling their vehicles. Only a few petrol pumps are open, that too once or twice a week, the sources said.

Although the elections to autonomous district councils ended on June 2, the ANSAM is still continuing with the blockade.

Last Friday, Union Home Secretary GK Pillai during a visit to Shillong had asked the students organisations to lift the blockade or face consequences. The situation assumed an even more sinister dimension when the Naga Students Federation launched a blockade on the Nagaland side of the vital NH - 39 on May 4 on an entirely different issue.

The NSF blocked Manipur-bound vehicles after the Manipur police barred a group of student leaders from entering inter-State Mao Gate on May 3.

The NSF, while reacting to Pillai's statement, today said if the Union Home Secretary was really interested in solving the crisis, he had to be "more sensible and impartial".

In a statement, NSF President Mutsikhoyo Yhobu said the agitation had been launched by different Naga outfits in protest against the "oppressive policies of O Ibobi Singh Government in Manipur".

The NSF alleged that the blockade was first imposed by the Ibobi Singh Government to restrict the movement of Naga people by deploying police forces on NH 39 at Mao Gate.– PTI

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun0710/oth05

 

[Oracle]

Centre mulling BSF deployment on Myanmar border

SHILLONG, June 6 – A proposal to deploy Border Security Force personnel along the Indo-Myanmar border to improve security was under consideration, Union Home Secretary GK Pillai said.
"A final decision on whether the Indo-Myanmar border will be manned by BSF or Assam Rifles will be taken by the Union Cabinet,'' Pillai told PTI during his three-day visit here.

India shares a 1,640-km-long border with Myanmar manned by Assam Rifles and the dense forests in most parts make the border porous and vulnerable.

Most of the posts of Assam Rifles are located well inside Indian territory and only a handful of posts are located near the zero-line, which makes it easier for the insurgents camping in Myanmar to sneak into India easily, the sources said.

BSF is currently responsible for guarding the Indo-Pak and Indo-Bangla border, with some battalions also deployed in Maoist-hit areas in Central and Eastern India and anti-insurgency operations in the North East.

Assam Rifles was entrusted with the responsibility of guarding the border with Myanmar in 2002 and at that time, the strength of the force was 30 battalions.

Gradually, the strength of the force has been increased to 46 battalions. Twenty more battalions are being raised by the force, the country's oldest paramilitary force.

Pillai admitted that there was a shortage of officers in the Army and this situation has prompted the Centre to consider a proposal of Assam Rifles on the direct entry of officers.

"There is a proposal for direct entry of officers for certain percentage partly because of the shortage of Indian army officers," he said last Friday.

Though a paramilitary force, the officer cadre of Assam Rifles is composed of Army officers on deputation. – PTI

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun0710/oth06

 

[Oracle]

Sikkim declared smoke-free State

Correspondent

GANGTOK, June 6 – In a landmark development, Sikkim was declared as a smoke-free State on the World No Tobacco Day recently. With this, the State has become the first State in the entire country to declare itself smoke-free.
Making a formal declaration to this effect at a function to mark the World No Tobacco Day at the Forest Conference Hall here, State Health Minister D N Thakarpa described it as a great achievement of the SDF Government which will have a significant impact on the health and economy of the State.

He revealed that four-fifth of deaths in Sikkim is due to non-communicable diseases and tobacco is the most important preventable cause of death. Thakarpa informed that even among communicable diseases Tuberculosis is one of the major killer diseases which has strong association with smoking as the smokers suffer three times more from TB and their death rate too is three to four times higher.

The function was organised jointly by the Health department and the Voluntary Health Association of Sikkim (VHAS) in collaboration with Union South East Asia, UATLD.

Asserting that Sikkim has made great progress in implementation of Smoke free Laws which has been well appreciated by International Organisations and people across the border, the Health Minister made it clear that declaration is based on objective assessment of Smoke Free status as per the norms laid in the National Level Review of Smoke Free Status held at Goa last year.

Sikkim was one of the few States to have passed the "Sikkim Prohibition of Smoking and Non-Smokers" Health Protection Act" in 1997, along with Union Territory of Delhi. However, as per the study done, the scenario in August 2007 was a lot different than what is seen today. Anyone found smoking can be fined by a notified officer, including the person in charge of the premises.

During the declaration of the Smoke Free State, it was informed that, all districts and Gangtok were surveyed. Simple randomised sampling was used to observe public places like office, rest house, shops, bus stops, taxi stands, prominent roads and footpaths. Although, the public places in Sikkim are Smoke Free, all including smokers supported smoke free laws, 98 per cent of public did not indulge in active smoking.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun0710/oth07

 

[Oracle]

People, govt being misguided: Dimasa body

Correspondent

HAFLONG, June 6 – The Dimasa Mothers' Association (DMA), Haflong, in a press release issued by its publicity secretary Swaruprani Hagjer, has termed as baseless the allegations made by the Indigenous Students' Forum against the Jadikhe Naisho Hoshom, the Dimasa apex body, about employing bullying tactics to subjugate other non-Dimasa indigenous tribes of Dima Hasao district.
The release maintained that the Indigenous People's Forum and the Indigenous Students' Forum were formed on communal lines by excluding the tribal Dimasa people and other non-tribal indigenous people just to create trouble and disharmony in the district and gain narrow political mileage. These two bodies are playing a dangerous political game and applying 'bullying tactics' on the non-Dimasa MACs to get their support forcibly in their favour, the release alleged. Except three, other non-Dimasa MACs were not willing to support them, it added.

The release claimed that the Dimasas were the first settlers in the district. The renaming of the district as Dima Hasao was done on the basis of the historical background of the Dimasas.

The DMA questioned as to why minority tribes like the Kukis, Hmars and Zeme Nagas should oppose the change of name of the district. It also maintained that the despite enjoying many facilities, these tribes were making allegations about deprivation.

The Indigenous People's Forum and the Indigenous Students' Forum even alleged that the Dimasas were not hills people and that they came from the Brahmaputra valley. In response to it, the DMA claimed that the Dimasas have been living in the district for many centuries before the advent of Kukis, Hmars and Zeme Nagas.

The Dimasas living in the Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong districts have been recognised as Scheduled Tribes (Hills) under the Constitution. Regarding the population percentage, Dimasas constitute 55 per cent of the total tribal population according to 2001 Census and 43 per cent of the total population of the district.

The DMA release maintained that except the Zeme Nagas, the Hmars and the Kukis, other non-Dimasa tribes are not against the Dimasas. A number of non-tribal communities like the Assamese, Bengalis, Nepalis, Sikhs, Biharis and others are not against the Dimasa community.

Only a few sections are misguiding the people of the district and the government with a view to achieving their narrow political gains, the DMA release added.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun0710/state06

 

[ajtr]

Prices skyrocket as Manipur blockade continues


http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun0710/oth05

Whats the problem between Nagas and manipuris?
1.Is it Hindu -Christian Problem?? Nagas are predominantly Christian, and Manipuris are predominantly Hindus.
2.The Naga demand for autonomy for Naga enclaves inside Manipur ????

 

[Oracle]

/\/\/\ No, it is not a problem between Hindus and Christians. The problem is NSCM(IM)'s demands for Nagalim (Greater Nagaland), which they claim - consists of all the Naga-inhabited areas of neighbouring Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and some portions of Myanmar, which it considers to be the rightful homeland of the Nagas.